Drum hoisting and conveying apparatus



Dec. 9, 1952 B. E. HALLORAN 2,620,937

DRUM HOISTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 21, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 55 EHALLQPA/V BY 1 Dec. 9, 1952 B. E. HALLORAN 2,620,937

DRUM HOISTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 21, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

B5 5. HALLOAA/Y BY flogzvzys' Dec. 9, 1952 B. E. HALLORAN 2,620.937

DRUM HOISTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 21, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV TOR- BAT/V .5 HAL p/1N Patented Dec. 9, 1952 DRUM HOISTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Ben E. Halloran, Terminal Island, Califi, assignor to The, Texas Company, New: York, N. Y'., acorporation of-Delaware Application September 21, 1949, Serial No. 116,905

3 Claims. (01. 214653) This invention relates to barrel or drum hoisting and conveying apparatus and is concerned essentially with certain improvements for securing or gripping the barrel or drum for hoisting and conveying.

The invention relates particularly to vehicular equipment for conveyin metal barrels and drums. In this type of apparatus trucks or tractors are equipped with elevating mechanism adapted for hoisting the drum. The elevating carriage commonly is provided with forks which are adapted to be inserted under the drum so that it may be hoisted by the elevating mechanism. In practice the drum is tilted by hand sothat the forks may be inserted underneath. The present invention provides an improvement in that it obviates the necessity of raising or tilting the drum for the insertion of supporting means at the bottom.

The invention contemplates means for securing or gripping the drum at the upper end thereof in such a manner that it may be raised, conveyed and lowered as may be desired. The securing or gripping means is conveniently operated by the driver of the vehicle without the necessity of anyone having to tilt the drum or push it onto the drum carriage.

In accordance with the invention a power-operated clamping mechanism is provided which is adapted to be elevated over the top flange or chine of the drum and to be then drawn against the flange or chine in a manner to firmly grip the drum so that it may be elevated and carried tothe point desired. The apparatus includes a band element attached to the elevating carriage and disposed to engage an upper portion of the side of the drum and clamping means adapted to be elevated over the chine and to be drawn against the inner periphery of the chine so as to firmly secure the drum between the clamping means and the fixed band. In this position the drum is hoisted and moved as desired.

For the purpose of explaining the invention in detail reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a towing truck equipped with hoisting apparatus and gripping mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention and constitutingan embodiment thereof.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing a drum in position on the floor prior to hoisting.

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the drum in an elevated position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the gripping mechanism.

A towing or lifting truck or tractor H3 is equipped with a pair of uprights H in the form of channel irons within which the elevating mechanism slides. Power for the elevating mechanism is provided by a cylinder l2 supplied with hydraulic fluid from the truck through hose (not shown) Chains l 3 of fixed length are anchored on a fixed cross member l4 and pass over idle sprockets on cross member [5 which slides within the channel irons H. The other ends of the chains are secured to a plate [6 which is attached to the drum carriage for raising and lowering it. The chains regulate the height of lift and permit the desired ratio of lifting speed to movement of the piston inthe usual manner.

The drum carriage is composed of rear posts or standards I! and front posts or standards 18 with inter-connecting members to form a suitable framework. The plate 16 is secured to the rear posts ll.

A drum stop or band l9 which is contoured to fit the contour of the drum is secured to the upper ends of the front posts F8. The band Id is positioned so as to be brought into contact with an upper portion of the side of a drum, as is shown in- Figures 3 and 4. A second drum stop or band 20 contoured to fit the drum is positioned at the base of the carriage.

A hydraulic cylinder 2| is suitably supported in the carriage framework. The cylinder is supplied with a hydraulic fluid through hose (not shown) from a source of hydraulic fluid -maintained under pressure and carried by the truck. The admission of the hydraulic fluid to the cylinder is controlled bythe operator seated on the truck. I

A piston rod 22 is operatively connected to an arm 23 which is pivoted at one end on a rod 24a supported in the posts I 8 as shown in Figure 5. The other end of the arm 23 carries a clamp arm 24 which is of an L. configuration. The arm 24 is advantageously formed oftwo identical segments as shown iii-Figure 5. A bolt 25 functions to pivotallyconnect the arm-23 with the dual arm 24. The outer end ofthe arm 23 also carries a bolt 26 which extends through a slot or oblong opening 21 in the inner leg, of each segment of the arm 24. The purpose of the slots 21 is to permit a limited pivoting movement of the dual arm on the bolt 25 to raise and lower the outer leg of the dual arm as is explained hereinafter. The outer ends of the dual arm 24 are secured to a cylindrical member 28, as shown in Figure 5.

A shaft 29 is inserted in the cylinder 28 and is held in position by means of a cotter pin 30. The

shaft 29 advantageously fits loosely within the cylinder 28 and the cotter pin fits loosely within the shaft. A clamp foot 3| is attached to the outer end of the shaft 29. The clamp foot 3| is provided with a surface at 32 which is contoured to fit the inside contour of the chine of the drum. This surface is preferably chamfered, or provided with small beads of metal deposited by welding, in order to provide a good gripping surface.

The forward movement of the arm 23 is limited by the stroke of the piston or by being arrested by a cross piece 33 which is supported on the front posts I8 of the carriage framework. A pair of stops 34 are positioned on the cross piece 33 and are adapted to be engaged by the inner segments of the L-shaped dual arm 24. The stops 34 are adapted to be contacted by the inner segments of the dual arm 24 prior to the termination of the forward movement of the arm 23. As the arm 23 continues its forward movement the L-shaped dual arm 24 pivots on the bolt 25 so that the outer end of the dual arm carrying the clamp foot 3| is raised. This movement is permitted by the slots 21.

A stop 35 is mounted on the front face of the cross piece 33 in order to prevent the clamp foot 31 from being drawn back out of position.

In operation, the piston of the hydraulic cylinder 2| is actuated to move the arm 23 forward. The forward movement of the clamp arm 24 is arrested by the stop 34 with the resultant pivoting of the dual arm on the pin 25 and the raising of the outer end of the dual arm 24 and clamp foot 3| above the chine of the drum. This elevated position is shown in Figure 1. The truck is then moved so as to place the bands 19 and 20 in juxtaposition to the drum. Upon retracting the piston the clamp foot 3| drops down and it is drawn against the chine of the drum. The drum is thus tightly gripped between the clamp foot 3| and the band l9. With the drum thus securely held the elevating mechanism is operated to elevate the drum and it is carried by the truck H) to the position desired. The piston is then actuated to move the arm 23 forward and elevate the clamp arm 24 and clamp foot 31 to permit withdrawal of the clamping mechanism from the drum.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in connection with apparatus having a particular construction and arrangement of parts and mode of operation, it will be seen that various changes and modifications may be made therein, while securing to a greater or less extent some or all of the benefits of the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. In drum hoisting apparatus, gripping mechanism mounted on the hoisting carriage comprising a, band disposed to engage an upper portion of the side of a drum and a clamp element adapted to engage the inside of the chine of the drum so as to grip the drum between said band and clamp, an arm mounted for pivotal movement, means for actuating said arm to move it on its pivot, a clamp arm the inner section of which is pivotally attached to said arm and the outer section of which carries said clamp element and a stop disposed to arrest the forward movement of the clamp arm prior to the completion of the forward movement of said arm with resultant pivoting of the clamp arm and raising of the clamp element above the chine, said clamp element being adapted to descend to the top of the drum and to be drawn against the chine of the drum upon the backward movement of said arm.

2. In drum hoisting apparatus, gripping mechanism mounted on the hoisting carriage comprising a band element adapted to engage an upper portion of the side of a drum and a clamp element adapted to engage the inside of the chine of the drum so as to firmly grip the drum between the band and clamp element, an arm mounted for pivotal movement, means for actuating the arm on its pivot forwardly and backwardly, an L- shaped clamp arm the inner segment of which is pivotally attached to said arm and the outer segment of which carries the said clamp element and a stop adapted to arrest the forward movement of the clamp arm prior to the completion of the forward movement of said arm and cause the clamp arm to move on its pivot with the continued forward movement of said arm to thereby raise the clamp element above the chine of the drum, said clamp element being adapted to descend to the top of the drum and to be drawn against the chine of the drum upon the backward movement of said arm.

3. In drum hoisting apparatus including a hoisting carriage, a band fixed to the front of the hoisting carriage and adapted to engage the upper portion of the side of a drum, a clamp element adapted to engage the inside of the chine of the drum so as to firmly grip the drum between said band and clamp element, an arm pivotally mounted on the carriage for backward and forward movement, reciprocating means for actuating said arm to move it on its pivot backwardly and forwardly, an L-shaped clamp arm the inner section of which is pivotally attached to said arm and the outer section of which carries the aforesaid clamp element, a stop element fixed to the hoisting carriage and disposed to arrest the forward movement of the clamp arm prior to the completion of the forward movement of said arm to thereby cause the clamp arm to move on its pivot with resultant raising of its outer section and the clamp element above the chine, said clamp element being adapted to descend to the top of the drum and to be drawn against the chine upon the backward movement of said arm.

BEN E. HALLORAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,028,976 Goff Jan. 28, 1936 2,272,447 Traxel Feb. 10, 1942 2,447,300 Williams Aug. 17, 1948 2,497,118 Ferrario et al. Feb. 14, 1950 2,512,409 Adde June 20, 1950 2,539,233 Dickson Jan. 23, 1951 2,545,021 Coupland et al. Mar. 13, 1951 

